Measure-cut-strip wire processing method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for feeding an insulated electrical wire, or the like, axially with respect to a transverse plane in which a single pair of blade cutting edges are supported for movement toward and away from the axis of the wire. Each blade has a continuous cutting edge forming the periphery of an opening through the blade. The wire is advanced a predetermined distance through the aligned blade openings by a pair of conveyors on opposite sides of the plane of the blade edges. The blades are moved in opposite directions to sever a premeasured length of wire from the supply by first portions of each blade edge. The severed wire portion is then moved by the conveyors to a second axial position and the blades are again moved to cause second portions of the cutting edges to pass partially through the layer of insulation, stopping before contacting the conductor. Axial movement of the wire then causes the engaged blades to sever a slug of insulation and strip it partially or fully from the conductor. The rollers of both conveyors which are nearest the plane of the blade edges are of smaller diameter than the distal rollers, thereby permitting the conveyors to extend and support the wire at positions closer to the blades than otherwise possible.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/200,817, filed Feb. 23, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,051.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for cuttingsuccessive, measured, longitudinal sections from an elongatedfilamentary workpiece having a core surrounded by one or more layers ofa coating material, cutting at least partially through the coatinglayer(s) at selected distances from one or both ends of each section topermit severing of a slug of the coating material from the main bodythereof and optionally either partly or fully removing the slug(s) ofcoating material to expose portions of the core. More specifically, theinvention relates to novel and improved features of such apparatus,notably including a single pair of blades which serve both to cutentirely through the filamentary member and to cut only through thecoating material, as well as features of the apparatus for guiding andmoving the workpiece.

Apparatus of the type described in the preceding paragraph is widelyused in the electrical and electronics industries to supply high volumesof precut lengths of wire or cable, often with a portion of theinsulating or other coating layers removed at one or both ends of eachsection. As the wire or other elongated member to be processed is fedlongitudinally through the apparatus, microprocessor based drive meansoperate cutter blades to sever the wire into sections of preselected or"measured" lengths, to cut at least partly through the insulation and tosever and strip a slug of insulation from the end of the wire by movingthe wire section longitudinally while the blades are engaged with theinsulation. Such apparatus has become known in the industry asmeasure-cut-strip machines. Although such apparatus may be used toprocess coated optical fiber or other elongated, filamentary materialsof uniform cross section having a central core surrounded by one or morelayer(s) of covering material(s), for purposes of discussion andillustration herein the workpiece or material to be processed will beconsidered a simple electrical wire comprised of a conductor coated witha layer of plastic insulation.

Cutting the wire into separate sections, and cutting through theinsulation prior to stripping s slug from the conductor, is performed inmost of the current measure-cut-strip machines by two or more pairs ofblades having opposed cutting edges. For example, the measure-cut-stripmachine of related U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,146,673, 5,253,555 and 5,265,502employs three pairs of blades, a center pair for cutting through theentire wire, with additional blade pairs on each side for cuttingthrough and stripping the insulation. Although this adds to the cost andcomplexity of the machine by requiring separate elements for mountingand moving each set of blades, it has been found that using the same setof blades to cut the wire and to cut and strip the insulation canproduce poor results; e.g., the blade edges may become nicked afterrepeatedly cutting through the wire or cable, causing uneven cuttingand/or stripping of the insulation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide ameasure-cut-strip wire processing machine utilizing only one pair ofblades while avoiding problems inherent in cutting the wire with thesame cutting edges used to cut and strip the insulation. Another,related object is to provide measure-cut-strip wire processing apparatushaving highly accurate, yet simple and relatively inexpensive mechanismfor supporting and moving the blades which cut the wire and cut andstrip the insulation.

The wire is moved axially in forward and rear directions through themachine of the aforementioned patents by a pair of conveyors, oneforwardly and one rearwardly of the three pairs of blades, eachcomprising a pair of endless belts passing around spaced wheels orrollers and having opposed, elongated stretches for engaging oppositesides of the wire. While such conveyor means are, in general,advantageous for moving the wire axially as it is processed, there arealso certain disadvantages. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide improvements in conveyor-type wire transportingmeans in measure-cut-strip wire processing apparatus.

In generally, the objects of the invention are to provide novel andimproved wire processing apparatus of the measure-cut-strip type havinghighly efficient and accurate operating features coupled with simple andeconomical construction requiring a minimal member of parts, and toprovide novel and improved blade means for use in such apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The measure-cut-strip apparatus of the invention, in a first aspect,includes a single pair of blades each having a single, continuous,cutting edge. The cutting edge of each blade has a first portion and asecond portion. The blades are supported with planar surfaces of each inmutual contact in a fixed plane perpendicular to the linear direction ofwire movement through the apparatus. Each blade is moveable, with theplanar surfaces in sliding, mutual contact in the fixed plane, in afirst direction and in a second, opposite direction. The blades aremoved by reversible motive means, preferably a linear actuator, througha pivoted linkage which imparts equal movement to the blades, one in thefirst and the other in the second direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the cutting edge of each blade has fourlinear sides of equal length forming an enclosed perimeter of a throughopening. The blades have a neutral position of relative movement whereinthe openings are fully aligned and the perimeters coextensive. The firstand second directions of movement of the blades are along a lineintersecting the junctures of a first and a second, and of a third andfourth of the four-sided perimeters. The first and second sides of thefirst blade edge perimeter and the third and fourth sides of the secondblade perimeter form the first portions of the cutting edges of theblades; the third and fourth sides of the first blade perimeter and thefirst and second sides of the second blade perimeter form the secondportions. As movement is imparted to the first blade in the firstdirection and the second blade in the second direction, the firstportions of the cutting edges are moved toward one another as thealigned portions of the openings become progressively smaller. When thejuncture of the first and second sides of the first blade edge peripheryis aligned with the juncture of the third and fourth sides of the secondblade periphery, there are no longer any portions of the openings whichare aligned. Thus, a wire extending axially through the aligned openingsin the neutral position of relative blade movement is severed into twosections by the first portions of the cutting edge of the blades.

Upon movement of the blades in the opposite directions, the openingsagain become aligned and one of the wire sections may be moved axiallythrough the openings to a desired position where the insulation is to becut. Continued movement of the blades brings the second portions of thecutting edges toward one another until they extend into the insulation.Blade movement is stopped before the cutting edges engage the conductor,and the wire is moved axially to complete severing of a slug ofinsulation and to strip the slug fully or partially from the end of theconductor. Repeated sequential movements of the blades and wire in thismanner processes the wire in a desired manner, providing wire sectionscut to a preselected length with slugs of insulation, also ofpreselected length, partly or fully stripped from the conductor at oneor both ends. Blade movement in both directions is advantageouslyeffected through a pivoted linkage mechanism preferably driven by alinear actuator.

The wire is moved axially through the machine from an inlet to an outletand by first and second conveyors, each having a pair of belts withspaced, opposed surfaces for gripping the wire and moving it in responseto belt rotation. The wire passes between the belts of the firstconveyor at the inlet end, through a passageway in a guide member,through the previously mentioned blade openings and between the belts ofthe second conveyor for ejection at the discharge end. The guide memberis mounted for pivotal movement about an axis mutually perpendicular tothe directions of wire and blade movement.

Each of the conveyor belts passes around a pair of pulleys in the usualmanner. However, contrary to prior practise in machines of this type,the pulleys of each pair nearest the blades are of a diameter smallerthan that of the other pulleys, with advantageous results as explainedlater. Each of the larger diameter pulleys is positively driven, onepulley of each conveyor directly from the output shaft of a respectivedrive motor and the other by a direct, one-to-one gear drive from themotor output. The smaller diameter rollers of the outlet conveyor arepositioned closely adjacent the blades, thus obviating the need for awire guide between the two. A single adjustment mechanism controlsSpacing of the opposed portions of the second (outlet) conveyor beltsand consequently the pressure applied thereby to a wire section as it ismoved through this conveyor. The drive motors of both conveyors are, ofcourse, reversible to permit wire movement in both forward and reversedirections through both conveyors.

The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of themeasure-cut-strip wire processing apparatus of the present inventionwill be more readily understood and fully appreciated from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, left side, top perspective view of a preferredembodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are left and right side elevational views, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view with certain portions removed;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, front elevational view with portions insection;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary, perspective views of portions of theapparatus;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, front elevational view, partly in section;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view;

FIG. 14 is a rear, perspective view with portions removed;

FIGS. 15a-c are front, rear and sectional views of a preferredembodiment of a blade;

FIGS. 16a, 16b and 16c are fragmentary, side elevational views insection on the line 16--16 of FIG. 8 showing various moveable elementsin different positions during operation of the apparatus; and

FIG. 17 is a series (a through f) of enlarged, fragmentary, frontelevational views illustrating an operational sequence of portions ofthe apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The measure-cut-strip wire processing apparatus of the invention isdenoted generally by reference numeral 10, and is adapted to receive, asfrom a coil or other supply, a workpiece in the form of an elongated,filamentary member having a central core surrounded by one or morelayers of coating or protective materials. As previously mentioned, forpurposes of the present discussion the workpiece will be considered aconventional electrical wire consisting of a conductive core covered byplastic insulation, the core and insulation being referred tocollectively as a wire, it being understood that the apparatus iscapable of processing other workpieces.

Apparatus 10 includes a housing or cabinet for certain elements to bedescribed later, the housing having the usual, mutually secured walls,namely, front 12, top 14, bottom 16, left side 18, right side 20 andback 22. Operating elements of apparatus 10, are mounted adjacent,and/or extend through front wall 12 from the interior of the housing. Anarray 24 of control buttons is positioned on forwardly inclined portions14a of top wall 14. The housing rests upon feet 26 beneath bottom wall16. Openings, covered by protective grilles 28, 28', are respectivelyprovided in left side wall 18 and right side wall 20. Jack 32 is mountedin rear wall 22 to receive a multi-pin plug for connecting operatingpower to apparatus 10.

The workpiece operated upon by apparatus 10 is wire 34, in some viewsseen as consisting of central core or conductor 36 surrounded by aprotective covering in the form of insulation 38. Wire 34 is taken froma coil or reel (not shown) and, preparatory to operation, the leadingend of the wire is inserted through openings 40 and 41 (FIGS. 1 and 10)of member 42. Rod 44 extends through vertically elongated opening 46 inhousing front wall 12 and is pivotally mounted on support 47 (FIG. 7)within the housing. Rod 44 is freely moveable about its pivotal mountingand, in so moving, actuates switch 48. Rod 44 is manually lifted at itsfree end and, after wire 34 is inserted through the openings in member42, the rod rests in an upper position upon the wire. When no wire ispresent, rod 44 drops by gravity to a lower position. Actuation ofswitch 48 is such that when rod 44 is in its upper position power issupplied to illuminate green LED 50, and when rod 44 is in its lowerposition red LED 52 is illuminated, thus providing convenient visualnotice to an operator of the presence or absence of a workpiece inapparatus 10.

While various motive means, described later, as well as the necessarycircuit components for operation of apparatus 10 are mounted within theenclosed space defined by the housing, the processing of wire 34 isperformed entirely externally of the housing by elements forwardlyadjacent front wall 12. Such elements are covered by their forward sideby transparent shield 54 which is releasably secured adjacent its upperedge to front wall 12 by screws 56, 56' and adjacent its lower edge byscrew 58 which extends through an opening in shield 54 and into athreaded opening in block 60.

After passing through member 42, wire 34 passes between opposedstretches of a pair of endless bands or belts 62, 62'. Belt 62 passestautly around relatively large and small diameter pulleys or rollers 64and 66, respectively, while belt 62' passes around large and smalldiameter rollers 64' and 66'. Wire 34 is frictionally engaged betweenthe horizontal portions of belts 62 and 62' and advanced axially throughapparatus 10 by rotation of rollers 64 and 66, and thus belt 62, in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the front side, and rotationof rollers 64', 66' and belt 62' in a clockwise direction. As will beseen, the direction of rotation of belts 62 and 62' is reversible tomove wire 34 in either forward (toward the right as viewed from thefront side) or rearward directions.

Upon exiting belts 62, 62' in the forward direction, wire 34 entersopening 67 in cylindrical member 69 and extends through an axialpassageway in a wire guide comprising hollow shaft 70 and tip 71. Thepassageway has a diameter slightly larger than that of the wire, therebycontrolling quite closely the axial path of the wire. A number ofadditional wire guides, all denoted by reference numeral 70', areconveniently stored on stub shafts (not shown) extending forwardly fromfront wall 12. Each of guides 70' is essentially identical to guide70-71, except that the diameter of the internal passageway is differentin each guide. Any one of the wire guides may be selectively mounted inthe operative position, in a manner described later, to provide theaxial passageway conforming most closely to the diameter or gauge of thewire being processed.

Upon exiting guide tip 71, wire 34 passes through aligned openings inblades 72 and 74. The structure and manner of operation of blades 72 and74 form an important aspect of the present invention and will beexplained in detail hereinafter. One of the functions of blades 72 and74 is to sever wire 34 into successive sections of predetermined length,thereby providing a forward section of wire which is physically separatefrom the supply fed into apparatus 10.

After passing through the openings in blades 72 and 74, the wire isadvanced between opposing stretches of endless belts 76 and 76'. Belt 76passes tautly around relatively large and small diameter rollers 78 and80, respectively, and belt 76' likewise passes around rollers 78' and80'. Wire 34 is frictionally engaged between opposed, horizontalstretches of belts 76 and 76', for axial movement in forward andrearward directions during the processing operation. Upon completion ofprocessing, the individual sections of wire are ejected at the front,right side of apparatus 10.

Belts 62, 62' and their associated rollers and mounting meanscollectively form what is termed the inlet conveyor, denoted generallyby reference numeral 82. Likewise, belts 76, 76' and associated elementsform outlet conveyor 82'. Rollers 64 and 64' are mounted upon respectiveshafts 83, 83' extending through suitable bearings in mounting blocks 84and 84', and through openings in front wall 12. Rollers 66 and 66' aremounted upon shafts 85 and 85', respectively, which are rotatablyaffixed to blocks 84 and 84'. Rollers 78, 78' of outlet conveyor 82' aremounted on shafts 87, 87', respectively, which extend through mountingblocks 88, 88' and through front wall 12; rollers 80, 80' arerespectively mounted on shafts 89, 89', extending from upper and lowermounting blocks 88, 88'.

Mounting block 84 is fixedly attached to front wall 12 by screws 86,while block 84' is mounted for limited vertical movement with respect tothe front wall, and thus with respect to block 84. Springs 91, 91'resiliently urge block 84' upwardly, urging the horizontal stretch ofbelt 62' toward the opposing stretch of belt 62 in known manner, thusproviding tight frictional engagement of the portion of wire 34 passingthrough inlet conveyor 82.

Although the belts of the inlet conveyor are simply urged toward oneanother, the spacing of opposed, horizontal stretches of belts 76 and76' is selectively adjustable. Upper mounting block 88 is fixedlyattached by screws 90 to front wall 12. As best seen in FIG. 12, shaft92 extends from thumb wheel 94 at its upper end, loosely throughopenings in stabilizing block 96 and upper mounting block 88, andterminates within blind openings 98 in lower mounting block 88'.Allen-head screw 100 extends upwardly, into opening 98 and is threadedlyreceived in a tapped, axial opening in the lower end of shaft 92. Guiderods 102, 102' extend fixedly from lower mounting block 88' and areslidingly received in openings 103, 103', respectively, in uppermounting block 88. Thus, by a single, simple adjustment, the spacing ofthe horizontal, wire-engaging portions of belts 76 and 76' may be closedor opened by rotation of thumb wheel 94 in the respective directionsindicated on plate 104. To provide proper relative positioning of theelements, a portion of thumb wheel 94 extends through opening 106 infront wall 12.

Inlet and outlet conveyors 82, 82' are separately powered by electricmotors 108, 108', respectively The output shaft of motor 108 is directlycoupled to shaft 83 or roller 64. Spur gear 110 on shaft 83 engagesidentical spur gear 110' on shaft 83' thus providing direct, one-to-onedrives of both rollers 64 and 64'. The output shaft of motor 108' islaterally offset, due to space requirements, from the axis of rollershaft 87, and is coupled thereto for one-to-one drive by endless belt112, passing around a sprocket on the motor drive shaft and an identicalsprocket 117 on roller shaft 87. Spur gear 116 on shaft 87 engagesidentical spur gear 116' on roller shaft 87', thereby providing directdrives to both of outlet conveyor belts 76 and 76'.

Turning now to a detailed consideration of the structure and operationof blades 72 and 74, particular attention is directed to FIGS. 13 and14. It will first be noted that the two blades are identical to oneanother and are mounted in back-to-back relation with planar surfaces inmutual engagement in a fixed plane. Blade 72 is fixedly attached toplate 118 by means of screws 119, passing through openings 120 in blade72 and secured in threaded openings 121 in plate 118. Blade 74 issimilarly secured to plate 122 by screws 123. The lower ends ofelongated blade operating rods 124, 124' are slidingly received inopenings 125, 125', respectively, in previously mentioned block 60 whichis affixed to the housing. Pins 126, 126' extend transversely throughrods 124, 124;, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof. Rods 124,124' also extend slidingly through guide openings in fixed plate 128.

One of the ends of each of pins 126, 126' extends loosely through arespective one of elongated slots 130 in link 132; the other ends extendthrough slots 130' in link 132'. Links 132, 132' are mounted in spaced,parallel relation upon, and for joint pivotal movement about, stub shaft134 which extends through aligned openings in the links and is mountedon fixed support brackets 136, 136', extending forwardly from front wall12. Stub shaft 138 extends between mounting brackets 140, 140' attachedin spaced relation to the rear side of wall 12, and through opening 141of link 142; thus, shaft 138 provides a pivotal mounting for link 142 ator near its midpoint.

Pin 144 passes through aligned openings 145 in clevis 146, and throughopening 147 adjacent an end of link 142 positioned between the endportions of the clevis. Pin 148 extends outwardly from both sides oflink 142 adjacent the end thereof opposite the connection to clevis 146.Opposite ends of pin 148 extend through elongated openings 149, 149' inlinks 132, 132', respectively Lead screw 150 extends upwardly from athreaded connection to an internally threaded nut which is rotatablyattached to the rotor of linear actuator 152 and through a threadedopening in the lower end of clevis 146 where a pair of set screws 151and 153 extend into engaging relation with lead screw 150 to insure asecure attachment. Linear actuator 152 is affixed to plate 154. Pins155, 155' extend outwardly from opposite sides of plate 154 and arerotatably received in respective openings in plates 156, 156', each ofwhich is fixedly secured to the rear side of wall 12.

As linear actuator 152 is powered to produce a rotational output, leadscrew 150 is vertically adjusted in either an upward or downwarddirection. This, of course, produces upward or downward movement ofclevis 146 and the end of link 142 pivotally attached thereto due to thesecure attachment between lead screw 150 and clevis 146. As link 142pivots about pin 138, equal pivotal movement is imparted to links 132and 132' about pin 134. This in turn imparts equal and opposite verticalmovement to blade operating rods 124 and 124' by virtue of pins 126 and126' passing through elongated slots 130 and 130' on opposite sides ofthe pivotal mounting (on pin 134) of links 132 and 132'.

Plate 118 is fixedly secured at side 118a thereof to rod 124, rod 124'passes slidingly through an opening in side 118b of plate 118. Plate 122is fixedly secured at side 122a to rod 124', and rod 124 passesslidingly through an opening in side 122b. Thus, as links 132, 132' arepivoted in one direction, rod 124 (and consequently plate 118 and blade72) is moved upwardly, while rod 124' (and plate 122 and blade 74) ismoved downwardly. Opposite movement of blades 72 and 74 is produced byreversing the direction of rotation of linear actuator 152, therebyrotating links 132, 132' in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing description it will be understood how equal andopposite, linear movement in a vertical direction (in the illustratedorientation) is imparted to blades 72 and 74. The distance of blademovement is precisely defined through controlled actuation of linearactuator 152, providing much greater precision than conventional bladedrive means such as electric motors. Furthermore, precisely controlledblade movement is achieved with a minimal number of parts connecting thesingle motive means with the single pair of blades. Accommodation oftranslations between linear and pivotal relative movement of variousparts is provided by the elongated nature of slots or openings 130,130', 149 and 149' in links 132, 132' as well as by the pivotal mountingon pins 155, 155' of linear actuator 152.

A preferred form of the two identical blades used in apparatus 10 isshown from what are termed its front and rear sides in FIGS. 15a and15b, respectively, although it will be understood that otherconfigurations having the required physical characteristics are alsosuitable. The blade of FIGS. 15a-c has front and rear surfaces A and B,respectively, and through openings C for passage of blade mountingscrews. An additional, through opening is defined by a continuousperimeter of four sides D1, D2, D3, and D4, of equal length. Theperimeter of this opening is surrounded on one side by planar surfacesangularly arranged with respect to parallel, planar front and rearsurfaces A and B and extending from front surface A to the perimeter ofthe opening at rear surface B, thus providing a sharp cutting edge aboutthe perimeter of this opening in the plane of surface B.

An axis through the juncture of sides D1 and D2 and the juncture ofsides D3 and D4 is indicated at X--X in FIG. 15a. The point at thejuncture of sides D1 and D4 is indicated at E1 in the sectional view ofFIG. 15c, and the juncture of sides D2 and D3 is indicated at E2. Whentwo such identical blades are placed in superposed relation with atleast portions of their rear surfaces B in mutual contact, they may berelatively arranged so that the perimeters of the four sided openingsare fully aligned, i.e., are coextensive. In fact, the two blades may beso arranged whether screw openings C of each blade are positioned at thesame or at opposite ends of the superposed blades.

Considering a pair of blades having the structure of the blade shown inFIGS. 15a-c in the context of apparatus 10, attention is now directed toFIGS. 16a-c. Blade 72 is mounted to extend downwardly from plate 118,and blade 74 extends upwardly from plate 22. The ends of blades 72 and74 opposite the ends at which they are attached to the plates areindicated at 72a and 74a, respectively, end 74a, of course, being hiddenby blade 72 and indicated in dotted lines.

The elements are shown in FIG. 16a in what is termed the neutralposition with the perimeters of the four-sided openings i.e., thecutting edges, fully aligned and coextensive. In FIG. 16b, linearactuator 152 has vertically adjustable lead screw 150 to move clevis 146upwardly, thereby pivoting links 142, 132, and 132' to cause rod 124 andblade 72 to move downwardly, and rod 124' and blade 74 to move upwardly.This, of course, moves the juncture of the two upper sides of thecutting edge of blade 72 and the juncture of the two lower sides of thecutting edge of blade 74 toward one another. That is, the blades aremoved relative to one another in opposite directions, along axis X-X ofFIG. 15a, to decrease the area of the aligned portions of the throughopenings. A wire extending through the initially aligned openings willbe engaged by first portions (two sides of each) of the cutting edge ofeach blade, and will be fully severed if relative movement of the bladescontinues until no portions of the through openings are aligned.

FIG. 16c illustrates the relative positions of the elements when movedfrom the neutral position in the direction opposite to that of FIG. 16b.Lead screw 150 has been vertically adjusted by linear actuator 152 tomove clevis 146 downwardly, thereby pivoting link 142 and links 132,132' to cause upward movement of rod 124 and downward movement of rod124'. Thus blades 72 and 74 are moved upwardly and downwardly,respectively, to move the juncture of the two lower sides of the cuttingedge of blade 72 and the juncture of the two upper sides of the cuttingedge of blade 74 toward one another. The area of the aligned portions ofthe openings surrounded by the cutting edges of the two bladesprogressively decreases, as in movement from FIG. 16a to FIG. 16b, butin the opposite direction.

A wire extending through the aligned portions of the blade openings willbe engaged by what may be termed a second portion of each cutting edgewhen the area of the aligned portions of the openings is sufficientlyreduced. In one aspect of operation of apparatus 10, as will beexplained, movement of blades 72 and 74 toward the FIG. 16c position isstopped after the second portion of each cutting edge has passed throughinsulation 38 but before the edges contact conductor 36. By moving thewire axially in the proper direction, through actuation of one ofconveyors 82 and 82', while the blades remain engaged with theinsulation, a slug of insulation will be severed and removed from an endportion of the wire.

FIG. 17 illustrates a typical operational sequence of apparatus 10. Ininsets b and d blades 72 and 74 are shown in their neutral position, theblade openings surrounded by the cutting edges being fully aligned andcoextensive in the fixed plane of the mutually contacting surfaces ofthe blades. Initially, with the blades in the neutral position, wire 34is axially advanced through the inlet conveyor, through the passagewaydefined by the wire guide (including illustrated portions 69 and 70),through the aligned openings in the blades and partially through theoutlet conveyor. With the wire in the position of FIG. 17a, theconveyors are stopped and linear actuator 152 is operated to move thelinkages and blades to the FIG. 17a position, (also shown in FIG. 16b)with no portions of the blade openings aligned, thereby severing thewire and forming a new leading end at the plane of the cutting edges.The outlet conveyor is then operated in the direction of the arrows onrollers 80, 80' in FIG. 17a until the short, scrap section 34b isejected at the right side. Apparatus 10 is now initialized and ready tobegin forming and processing sections of wire of predetermined lengthwith portions of insulation, also of predetermined length, establishedby operator inputs to the memory of the microprocessor through controlkeys of array 24, stripped partly or fully from one or both ends of thewire sections.

Blades 72 and 74 are moved to the neutral position and wire 34 isaxially advanced by operation of both conveyors until the new leadingend 34c is spaced from the plane of the cutting edges by a distanceequal to the length of a slug of insulation to be severed and partly orfully stripped from an end portion of the conductor. Operation of bothconveyors is then stopped and the position of the elements is as shownin FIG. 17b.

Linear actuator 152 is then operated to move the blades to the positionof FIG. 17c, which is also the position previously described withrelation to FIG. 16c. That is, second portions of the cutting edge ofeach blade pass through the layer of insulation but do not contact theconductor. Inlet conveyor 82 is then actuated to move the wire in thereverse or rearward direction, indicated by arrow 159. Since the bladesremain engaged with the insulation, rearward movement of the wire seversthe insulation at the plane of the cutting edges, forming slug 38a. Inthe position shown in FIG. 17c, rearward movement of wire 34 hasretracted leading end 36a of the conductor some distance into slug 38a,and leading end 38b of the severed insulation the same distancerearwardly of the plane of the cutting edges. Movement may continueuntil the end of the conductor is fully withdrawn from slug 38a or, ifdesired, only partially withdrawn with the severed slug remaining on theend of the wire, as is common in measure-cut-strip and other types ofwire processing apparatus.

If slug 38a is to be fully removed, wire 34 is moved rearwardly untilconductor end 36a is at the plane of the cutting edges, whereupon outletconveyor 82' may be operated in the direction of the arrows on therollers in FIG. 17c to eject slug 38a from the outlet end. In any case,after severing and the desired amount of stripping of slug 38a, blades72 and 74 are moved back to the neutral position and both conveyors areoperated to advance the wire until leading end 36a of the conductor isspaced from the plane of the cutting edges by a distance equal to thepredetermined length of the wire sections. The blades are then movedagain to the FIG. 17a position to sever the wire to provide a forwardsection of desired length, physically separated from the incoming wiresupply, with a severed slug of insulation partly or fully stripped fromthe leading end of the conductor.

If a slug of insulation is to be severed and stripped from the trailingend of the separate section of wire, as is typically the case, theelements are next moved to the position of FIG. 17d. That is, blades 72and 74 are moved back to the neutral position, inlet conveyor 82 isreverse-actuated to withdraw the newly formed leading end 34d of thewire supply a short distance (e.g., 1/4") into the wire guide, and thelatter is pivotally moved about the axis of cylindrical portion 68 in amanner which will now be described.

As seen in FIG. 11, reduced diameter portion 68a extends rearwardly fromcylindrical portion 68 of the wire guide. Portion 68a extends throughfront wall 12, and is engaged rearwardly thereof by arm 160, as seen inFIG. 7. Arm 160 is attached adjacent its upper end to operating rod 162of solenoid 164 (see also FIG. 14). Actuation of solenoid 164 to moverod 162 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 7, rotates arm 160 in thedirection of the curved arrow about the axis of portion 68a. Rotation ofarm 160 rotates the wire guide to raise the free end thereof above theaxis of wire travel through the conveyors, as shown in FIGS. 17d-f.

With the wire guide in its upper position, trailing end 34e of theforward section of wire may be moved rearwardly by reverse actuation ofoutlet conveyor 82'. The forward section is so moved until end 34e isspaced from the plane of the cutting edges by a distance equal to thepredetermined length of the slug of insulation to be severed at thetrailing end. Such movement is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 17d.Blades 72 and 74 are then moved to the position of FIG. 17e (the same asin FIGS. 16c and 17c) to pass through and engage the insulation withoutcontacting the conductor. Forward actuation of the outlet conveyor, asindicated by the arrows in FIG. 17f, advances the forward section ofwire, stripping slug 38b from the now bare end portion 36b of theconductor, and ejecting the fully processed wire section at the outletend. As earlier mentioned, it may be desirous to only partially stripslug 38b from the end of wire 34 instead of fully stripping slug 38b.

It should be noted that the angled or beveled surfaces which surroundthe cutting edge on one side of each blade provide convenient guides forthe wire as it is moved in either the forward or rearward directionthrough the aligned openings in the blades. Also, utilizing rollers ofrelatively small diameter at one end of each of the inlet and outletconveyors permits the ends of the conveyors to be positioned closer tothe wire guide and the blades; this is advantageous since theunsupported portions of the wire are shorter and the wire is thereforemore easily maintained on the desired axis. The wire is accuratelyguided to the plane of the blade cutting edges by convenientlyinterchangeable guide tips having a passageway closely approximating thediameter of the wire being processed.

What is claimed is:
 1. The method of processing an elongated,filamentary member including a core surrounded by a coating material,said method comprising:a) supporting said member to extend along afixed, linear axis; b) supporting first blade means including first andsecond cutting edges with said first and second edges disposed in acommon plane perpendicular to said axis and spaced from said member onfirst and second sides thereof, respectively; c) supporting second blademeans including third and fourth cutting edges with said third andfourth edges disposed substantially in said common plane and spaced fromsaid member on said second and first sides thereof, respectively; d)effecting simultaneous movement of said first and second blade means infirst and second, opposite directions, respectively, parallel to saidcommon plane to cause said first and third cutting edges to engage saidmember; and e) thereafter effecting simultaneous movement of said firstand second blade means in said second and first directions,respectively, to cause said second and fourth cutting edges to engagesaid member.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said blade meansis moved in each of said directions by predetermined distances, thedistance of movement in one of said opposite directions being sufficientto cause one pair of said cutting edges to cut through and engageportions of said coating material but insufficient for said one pair ofedges to engage said core, and the distance of movement in the other ofsaid opposite directions being sufficient to cause the other pair ofsaid cutting edges to sever said member to form forward and rearsections thereof.
 3. The method of claim 2 and further including movingsaid member axially while said one pair of blades is engaged with saidcoating material.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first and secondblade means are moved by first, equal distances to cause said first andthird cutting edges to engage said coating material, and by second,equal distances, greater than said first distances, to cause said secondand fourth cutting edges to sever said member.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth cutting edges isformed in V-shaped configuration and said blade means are supported withthe apex of each of said cutting edges directed away from said axis. 6.The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second cutting edges areformed in a first, unitary body member, and said third and fourthcutting edges are formed in a second, unitary body member.
 7. The methodof processing an elongated, filamentary workpiece including a centralcore surrounded by a coating layer, said method comprising:a) formingfirst blade means with first and second cutting portions spaced from oneanother in a first, common plane; b) forming second blade means withthird and fourth cutting portions spaced from one another in a second,common plane; c) supporting said first and second blade means with saidfirst and second planes substantially coplanar; d) positioning saidfirst and second blade means in a neutral position with said first andfourth cutting portions on one side and said second and third cuttingportions on the opposite side of an axis perpendicular to said coplanarplanes; e) supporting said workpiece to extend along said axis in spacedrelation to all of said cutting portions; f) simultaneously moving saidfirst and second blade means in first, opposite directions to a firstcutting position wherein said first and third cutting portions eachengage and cut at least partially through said coating layer; g)simultaneously moving said first and second blade means in second,opposite directions, back to said neutral position; and h)simultaneously moving said first and second blade means in said second,opposite directions from said neutral position to a second cuttingposition wherein said second and fourth cutting portions completelysever said workpiece.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first andfourth cutting portions are substantially coextensive and said secondand third cutting portions are substantially coextensive when said firstand second blade means are in said neutral position.
 9. The method ofclaim 7 and further including moving said workpiece along said axiswhile said first and second blade means are in said neutral position.10. The method of claim 9 and further including moving said workpiecealong said axis while said first and second blade means are in saidfirst cutting position to sever said coating layer to move it axiallywith respect to said core.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein said firstand second blade means include first and second planar surfaces,respectively, and said first and second surfaces are in mutual, slidingcontact as said blade means are moved between said neutral, firstcutting and second cutting positions.
 12. The method of claim 7 whereinsaid first and second cutting portions are formed in a single,contiguous edge of said first blade means, and said third and fourthcutting portions are formed in a single, contiguous edge of said secondblade means.